Free wireless broadband available at Hamilton libraries

Hamilton residents will now be able to surf the web and access emails using their own laptop or other wireless capable devices in the comfortable surroundings of their local library – and all for free.

Hamilton City Libraries, through the Aotearoa People's Network, is offering free wireless internet broadband at six locations across the city. The new service mirrors the functionality of the existing desktop computers on the Aotearoa People's Network, which provide free internet in all Hamilton public libraries.

Hamilton City Libraries Digital Access Manager Smita Biswas expects it will be the city's community libraries that benefit most from the new wireless service.

"The free wireless internet will reduce pressure on the lesser number of computers in the smaller community libraries. Customers with their own wireless enabled laptop will not have to queue and will be able to access the same internet facilities as our desktop computers at all our libraries.

"Business people will also benefit greatly from the wireless service, enabling them to get work done and beat the email backlog when away from the office," said Mrs Biswas.

The new wireless service is available at Central, Chartwell, Dinsdale, Glenview, Hillcrest and St Andrews libraries.